The training partnership of John O’Shea & Tom Charlton has tasted Group success at their first attempt, with Schwarz (+140) holding off the fast-finishing Arctic Glamour (+500) in the final strides of the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Charlton joined O’Shea as an official training partner on August 1 to start the 2024/25 racing season, and it hasn’t taken long for the duo to win a Group race together.
The winner, who was piloted by James McDonald, opened as a short favourite with online bookmakers on Wednesday, and he was kept safe in betting in the lead-up to the Missile Stakes.
The son of Zoustar jumped well for McDonald, and he slowly worked his way across to find a position three lengths off the leader, Much Much Better (+800).
When he was asked for the ultimate effort and took over from the tiring frontrunner, Schwarz began to wobble out wide and nearly threw the race away with 150m to go.
The four-year-old entire held a slender break on his rivals at the 100m mark; however, the challengers were finishing off strongly, with Shezanalister (+650) and Arctic Glamour bursting through the pack.
Fortunately, for favourite backers and connections of Schwarz, McDonald got everything out of his mount and just held on for the valuable victory to kick off the preparation.
2024 Missile Stakes replay – Schwarz
Charlton represented the stable in the post-race interview.
“Thank you. I tried to hold back a bit there, but John didn’t want to do the honours,” Charlton said.
“I think he (Schwarz) raced a bit wide throughout, and like we said pre-race, he is a horse that likes to race comfortably.
“He got into a rhythm and maybe just felt the pinch late, but a solid win off just one trial.
“I think he is still learning and probably gaining confidence off, and that will do him a world of good.
“He’s a quality horse and a beautiful animal.
“We will just take a breath and speak to the boss, but maybe the race like the Memsie or some of the races up in Sydney.
“It’s a long spring, so we will work it out.”
James McDonald was impressed with the win, and he spoke post-race.
“Yeah, it was. It was an excellent win,” McDonald said.
“He didn’t have anything go his way.
“He was wide throughout, but he was obviously the best horse in the race, and he had to tough it out, he was a sitting duck a long way from home.
“They’ve just placed him to perfection, and he gets a very valuable Group 2 on his CV.”
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